Aurigids Meteors 2007

I observered the Aurigids northwest of Moro, OR. My primary sky observing area was from Ursa Minor to the Hyades. Three cameras were used with 14mm, 28mm and 35mm lens. The camera with 14mm lens caught a bright Aurigid clipped by the edge of the image frame. The camera with 35mm lens did not capture any Aurigids. The camera with 28mm lens captured two small Aurigids on two separate images (DSC3072 image is the top meteor at 4:20 and DSC3076 image is the bottom meteor at 4:55) and both images were combined to show the radiant affect above.

Image Details
Constellation Aurgia with the bright star Capella is center left in the image. M38 is below and to the left of the top meteor. M37 is below the bottom meteor. M36 is between the two meteors. M45 Pleiades is in top right image corner. Hyades with the star Aldebaran is lower center left edge of image. Red Mars is 30 percent the way between the Hyades and the bottom meteor. Mars is between NGC1746 (left) and NGC1647 (right).

Observing Details

12:30 - 4:05: 2 sporadic meteors
1:10: 1 very bright Aurigid north of Aurgia with long fuzzy trail
4:05-4:07: 7 Aurigids, this was the peak of the meteor shower for my observations
4:07-4:33 14 Aurigids
4:33 – Dawn: 3 Aurigids

Imaging Equipment Configuration

Model - NIKON D70 on Orion Sirius mount
DateTime - 2007:09:01 04:55:01
Image - DSC3076
ExposureTime - 198 seconds
FNumber - 2.8
ExposureProgram - Manual control
MaxApertureValue - F 2.0
MeteringMode - Center weighted average
LightSource - Fine weather
Flash - Not fired
FocalLength - 28 mm
UserComment - Manual AIS lens
ExposureMode - Manual
White Balance - Manual
SceneCaptureType - Standard
GainControl - None
Contrast - Normal
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Soft
Data version - 0210 (808595760)
ISO Setting - 400
Image Quality - RAW
White Balance - SUNNY
Image Sharpening - LOW
Focus Mode - MANUAL
White Balance Adjustment - 0
Tone Compensation - NORMAL
Lens type - Nikkor Manual 28mm 1:2
Flash Used - Not fired
Color Mode - MODE1a
Light Type - NATURAL
Hue Adjustment - 0
Noise Reduction - FPNR
Optimization - CUSTOM

Imaging Processing

Adobe Photoshop Version CS3

Aurigids

Ames Research Center Aurigid Shower Highlights
Spaceweather.com Aurigid Meteor Photo Gallery Sept. 1, 2007
MSNBC Cosmic Log CATCHING A FALLING STAR

Use Test patterns to calibrate monitor brightness, contrast, height and width

Home - What's New - Site Map - Observing - Unaided Eye - Binoculars - Telescopes - Astroimaging - Images - Sky Events - Dark Sky - Solar System - Sun - Moon - Planets - Mars - Jupiter - Saturn - Comets - Meteors - Stars - Constellations - Sky Maps - Deep Sky - Equipment - Image Processing - Software - Star Parties - Imaging the Sky - Portland Astronomy - Travels - Web Sites - Glossary